Environmental biology incorporates the study and conservation of the environment. The work of biologists often incorporates industries with potential for growth such as plant breeding, aquaculture and environment restoration.

In this double degree, you will be provided with the fundamental skills required to understand geological processes and materials with a central role in the search for and extraction of minerals. The environmental biology component has a broad and practical approach to biology. Your studies will have a strong practical emphasis, enabling you to undertake work with members of the wider community.

The course contains practical and work-relevant components that include practical geological work similar to that conducted in resources and environmental industry settings. This includes hands-on computing and practical exercises with industry standard software and geology field trips to various sites.

Please refer to the handbook for additional course overview information.

What you'll learn

apply fundamental geological or biological principles and concepts in theoretical, practical and vocational situations; expand discipline knowledges through research where appropriate

solve discipline based problems applying scientific methods and creative thinking in a logical and rational way

access, evaluate and synthesise information and data from multiple sources using discipline skills and knowledge to analyse and present findings

communicate effectively and appropriately to varied audiences using a variety of communication methods

select and employ appropriate technologies to fulfil requirements of Biological and Applied Geological environments; recognising advantages and disadvantages of various technologies as required

develop an independent ability to acquire information as required and recognise the need to remain current to industry and discipline requirements

recognise and appreciate international perspectives and global standards as they impact upon collecting and reporting data and other relevant scientific pursuits

acknowledge the need for sustainable use of earth resources, and value environmental, indigenous and other community perspectives on geological and geophysical activities

work ethically and professionally independently and as part of a team, complying with applicable legislation and managing time and other resources efficiently and effectively; develop employability and leadership skills as appropriate

Our future depends on us understanding the biological basis of our life-support systems. Although technologists and engineers will solve many of the problems that confront us, we need well-trained biologists to solve issues such as food production, population regulation, land care, pollution and conservation of our biodiversity.

Our biology students are well equipped for this task, as they gain a thorough understanding of biological principles and practices, obtained through a practical, hands-on approach involving plenty of fieldwork.

Our Environmental Biology department is highly regarded in the international environmental community and is renowned for its excellent teaching and research reputation, plus its friendly interaction with its students.

This is a hands-on, practical course with direct industry involvement.

This comprehensive course qualifies graduates for all major geology careers.

We offer a range of relevant double degree options with enhanced career options.

Student profile

View our student profile table to get an indication of the likely peer cohort for new students at Curtin University. This table provides data on students that commenced undergraduate study and passed the census date in the most relevant recent intake period for which data are available. It includes those admitted through all offer rounds and international students studying in Australia.

What kind of applicant are you?

Completed your secondary education in Australia within the past two years? Learn how you can apply to Curtin.

Applicants with higher education study

Undertaken higher education study before? Find out how you can apply for a Curtin course and what credit you may be eligible for.

Applicants with vocational education and training (VET) study

Have you studied a VET course? Find out how you can get into Curtin using these qualifications.

Applicants with work and life experience

Spent time in the workforce, completed a pathway program or finished secondary education more than two years ago? See how you can apply to study at Curtin

Applicants with recent secondary education(within the past two years)

Applicants with recent secondary education are those whose admission is primarily based on the completion of Year 12 within the last two years, but also includes those who may have completed their senior secondary studies with a TAFE or other VET provider within the same time frame. This includes applicants whose secondary education was undertaken interstate or overseas.

Guaranteed ATAR: 70

This is the ATAR level at which an offer of admission is guaranteed, subject to any other non-ATAR criteria being met.

Essential WACE subjects (prerequisites):

At least Mathematics Applications ATAR and one ATAR science course, or equivalent.

STAT entry:&nbspWritten English, Verbal and Quantitative

The Special Tertiary Admissions Test (STAT) assesses competencies considered important for success at uni.
These tests are provided by the Tertiary Institutions Service Centre (TISC) to help mature age candidates apply for certain courses.

Lowest selection rank to which a recent Year 12 student offer was made (including the consideration of any equity or other adjustment factors)

View the lowest selection rank (incorporating ATAR plus any adjustments) of an applicant to which an offer of a place was made in the most relevant recent intake period, this includes any ATAR adjustments.

ATAR and selection rank profile for those offered places wholly or partly on the basis of ATAR in the most recent intake period

Applicants with higher education study

Applicants with higher education are those whose highest level of study since leaving secondary education is a higher education course, such as a university degree. This includes applicants who are currently studying a higher education course at another education provider and want to transfer to Curtin University, or applicants who are currently studying at Curtin but want to switch to a different course. It also includes applicants who have completed past study with university and non-university higher education providers.

Higher education course switcher criteria

Maths Applications ATAR or unit/s assessed as comparable to Maths Applications ATAR; and

Science ATAR or unit/s assessed as comparable to Science ATAR.

Applicants with vocational education and training (VET) study

Applicants with vocational education and training (VET) study are those whose highest level of study since leaving secondary education is a VET course. This includes study at a public TAFE or other VET provider, whether a qualification was completed or not. Applicants with VET study may have other qualifications such as a Year 10 or Year 12 secondary school certificate.

Guaranteed ATAR: 70

This is the ATAR level at which an offer of admission is guaranteed, subject to any other non-ATAR criteria being met.

At least Mathematics Applications ATAR and one ATAR science course, or equivalent.

STAT entry:&nbspWritten English, Verbal and Quantitative

The Special Tertiary Admissions Test (STAT) assesses competencies considered important for success at uni.
These tests are provided by the Tertiary Institutions Service Centre (TISC) to help mature age candidates apply for certain courses.

Applicants with work and life experience

Applicants with work and life experience are those who left secondary education more than two years ago (i.e. who are not classified as recent secondary education applicants) and have not undertaken vocational education training (VET) or higher education study since then.

‘Experience’ includes a combination of factors sufficient to demonstrate readiness for higher education such as mature-age entry, professional experience whether completion of the Special Tertiary Admission Test (STAT) is required or not, community involvement or work experience. Applicants may have undertaken non-formal programs that have helped prepare them for tertiary education or are relevant to the proposed higher education field of study.

Guaranteed ATAR: 70

This is the ATAR level at which an offer of admission is guaranteed, subject to any other non-ATAR criteria being met.

Essential WACE subjects (prerequisites):

At least Mathematics Applications ATAR and one ATAR science course, or equivalent.

STAT entry:&nbspWritten English, Verbal and Quantitative

The Special Tertiary Admissions Test (STAT) assesses competencies considered important for success at uni.
These tests are provided by the Tertiary Institutions Service Centre (TISC) to help mature age candidates apply for certain courses.

Fees and charges

Australian and New Zealand student indicative fees for 2019

Student type

Cost

Commonwealth supported

What is a Commonwealth supported place (CSP)?

A CSP is subsidised by the Australian Government. They pay part of the course fees directly to Curtin and then the student pays the remainder (referred to as the “student contribution amount”). The student can defer this fee to their HECS-HELP loan.

All Australian students studying an undergraduate degree are automatically awarded a Commonwealth supported place. A limited number of Commonwealth supported places are also available for some postgraduate courses.

Learn more about CSPs and whether you’re eligible by visiting the Australian Government’s StudyAssist website.

$9,200*

Fees are indicative first year only and are subject to passage of legislation.

*The indicative first-year fee is calculated on 800 credit points, which is the typical full-time study load per year, however some courses require additional study to be completed, in which case the fee will be higher than that shown.

This fee is a guide only. It may vary depending on the units you choose and does not include incidental fees (such as lab coats or art supplies) or the cost of your textbooks – visit other fees and charges for more information. For more information on fees and to determine your eligibility for HECS-HELP or FEE-HELP, please visit fee basics or the Study Assist website

If you’re not an Australian citizen, permanent resident or New Zealand citizen, please see information for international students.

International student fees for 2019

International onshore – fee paying

Offer letter (100 credit) published fee

$16,900*

Indicative year 1 fee

$34,400*

Indicative essential incidental course fee

$2,120
*

The fees shown above apply to international students studying on-campus in Western Australia. The tuition fee is subject to an annual tuition fee increase of up to 5 per cent per annum. For information about fees at other locations please visit Curtin International’s offshore site.

Next steps

If you are successful in your application to study at Curtin, you will receive a letter of offer via email. You can either accept or defer your offer. To find out more about this process, view our enrolment web page.

Applicants with other international qualifications

The offering information on this website applies only to future students. Current students should refer to faculty handbooks for current or past course information. View courses information disclaimer.